Releasing device for cattle-stalls



, (Model.)

J. G. GERMEYER'.

RELEASING DEVICE FOR CATTLE STALLS.

Paten ted Oct. 10, 1882..

' UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

JOHN (J. GERMEYER, OF GARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RELEASING DEVICE FOR CATTLE-STALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,797, dated October10, 1882,

Application filed March 29, 1882. (Model) To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, J. G. GERMEYER, a itizen of the United States, residingat Garlisle, in the county of Cumberland and State ofPennsylvania,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Releasing Devicesfor Stalls for Cattle, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to the hitching devices in the stalls orstables for cattle; and the object of the invention is to provide ameans whereby at ordinary times the animals may be properly secured orfastened in their stalls; but in the event of an emergency-such as afire occurring or other extraordinary occasionall the cattle. may beinstantly and simultaneously loosened,-so as to facilitate their rapidexit from the building; and the novelty consists in the construction ofthe devices, as

will be hereinafter more fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, similar letters of reference indicate likeparts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a stall fitted with my device. Fig. 2 isa section through the line :0 m, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of theboltl-plate detached from the frame-work ofthe stal Ais the feed-trough,having the inclined front a, and rear or back a, of ordinaryconstruction.

B is the side or end of the stable, and b one of the stall-partitions.

O is an iron rod running the entire length of the stalls, and is locatedon the inner side of the inclined front a. This rod 0 works in guides cin the bolt-plate D, so as to have an end-sliding increment of an inchor two, and is operated by a handle, E, secured on the outside B of thestable, or, it preferable, to a partition on the inside. The handle Eworks in a guide, c, and is connected to pitmauF, which in turn issecured to one end of a bellcrank, G, the other end of which is attachedto a short connecting-rod, H, secured to one end of the rod 0. It willthus be seen that by operating the handle E a sliding motion iscommunicated to the rod 0. A spiral or other suit- I able spring, I, issecured to the bell-crank G,

so as to force the rod 0 inwardly or to the right.

About the center of each feed-trough are secured the bolt-plates D.These plates consist of a single piece of sheet metal, the lower part ofwhich is bent up to form the guide 0, and a portion of this guide is cutaway to form a stop, 0, for the bolt, and that part of the metal whichis cut away on three sides to form an opening, d, is bent out at a rightangle and provided with an orifice, (1, so as to form a staple, a. Atthe point where the rod 0 passes through the guides c an angular bolt,K, is secured to the rod, so that its bolting end is inserted into theorifice d in the staple e. A downwardly-incliued slot, L, is out throughthe front a of the feed-trough, through which passes a link, M, havingan orifice, m,and ring N. A sheet-metal cscutcheon, O, is secured to thefront of the trough, so as to form a protection to the slot L andprevent wear oi" the wood, and the piece of metal 0, which is cut awayon three sides of slot, is bent inwardly and forms a wearing-surface forthe link M.

The ingenious construction of the plate D and escutcheon 0 adds greatlyto thelit'e of the device, and they are in themselvt s inexpensive andvery effective for the purpose in which they are employed.

In ordinary operation the cattle are secured by a snap on the halter tothe ring N, and in this position, should the stable take fire or otherextraordinary eventoccur, by simply drawing the handle E outwardly thebolts K are withdrawn from the staples e. Thisi'rces the links M, andthey fall by gravity through the inelined slots L, and thus the wholenumber of cattle in the stable are instantly and simultaneouslyunhitched, which greatly facilitates their exit in case of danger.

It will readily be understood that my invention is applicable to stablesfor all classes of animals wherein it may be desirable at any time tounhitch the lot at one operation without undergoing the tediousoperation of looseuing them singly.

, Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new anduseful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, lS-

The bolt-plate D, having the guide 0, opening (1, staplee, and orifice(1, made of a single piece of metal, in combination with the link M, rod0, and bolt K, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: J. G. GERMEYER.

THEo. GARMAN,

WM. VANCE.

